Joseph denis cyprien chateau



(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 8,1898.

Jay-z INVENTDFI A ITORNE Y8.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH DENIS CYPRIEN CHATEAU, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,356, dated March 8, 1898.

Application filed July 10, 1897. Serial No. 644,058. (No model.) Patented in France May 30, 1896,110. 256,784.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH DENIS OYPEIEN CHATEAU, a citizen of the French Republic, and aresident of Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Regulators for Electric Currents, (for which I have obtained French Patent No. 256,784., dated May 30, 1896,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an automatic regulator permitting of keeping the amperage or intensity of the current practically constant in an electric circuit.

This regulator is particularly applicable to an apparatus for lighting and extinguishing gas-burners at a distance, as set forth in another application for patent filed by me on December 31, 1896, Serial No. 617,623. It can of course be applied for other purposes also.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic current-regulator which will work, whatever the resistance in the total circuit may be.

The invention consists of a regulator hav ing an electromagnet or coil, with an armature controlling a shunt-circuit and the passage of the current through a resistance, all arranged in the particular novel way hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a circuit with my improvement applied thereto. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are like views showing the armature in its three main positions, and Fig. 5 illustrates another form of my invention.

In the drawings, R indicates the burners or other appliance to which the current is to be conveyed from any suitable source, such as a battery S. C is the commutator, whereby the current may be sent in either direction through the burners R or other device. The commutator comprises two keys or switches 70, connected in series with the instruments R, so that the latter are between the switches, contact-points arranged in series and connected in pairs to the entrance and exit wires, respectively,and a resistance G in series with the instruments R. One of the switches should engage the contact-piece on the entrance-wire and the other switch should engage the contact-piece on the exit-wire. In the position shown in Fig. 1 the current passes from the entrance-wire to the switch 7c',and at the same time through the shunt containing the resistance G to the instruments R, and thence through the switch 7:; to the exit-wire. Reverse the position of the two switches and the current will pass from the entrance -wire through the switch 7; and the instruments R, and at the same time through the shunt c011- taining the resistance G to the switch 7c and the exit-wire. By this means the direction of the current is reversed without altering its intensity. These parts have no specific relation to my present invention and may be of any suitable construction.

In the main circuit is included a resistance G and a coil or electromagnet E, normally arranged in series. Between the magnet and the resistance the circuit-wire connects with the armature F, which is pivoted or secured to a spring in the well-known manner. The

swinging end of the armature F is adapted to I as it will be when all of the instruments R or the majority thereof are included in the circuit,) the armature F will swing away from the magnet E and engage the contact-piece h, Figs. 1 and 2. The current will then pass directly from the magnet E to the contactpiece h, (through the armature,) the resistance G being in the shunt and receiving but a very small proportion of the current. In this case there is no additional resistance beyond that of the line and of the apparatus R. Since the circuit-resistance is decreased owing to the fact that in the position shown in Fig. 2 the current passes through the armature F as well as through the resistance G, the intensity of the current passing through the magnet E is increased, and in consequence thereofthe armature F will leave the contact-piece h and oscillate like the hammer or armature of an electric bell between the two contacts h h, the extreme position toward the magnet being,

for instance, as shown in Fig. 3. The resistance G will thus be thrown in entirely, and the strength of the current passing through the magnet E will be reduced correspondingly, causing the armature to return into engagement with the contact-piece h, when the operation will be repeated, causing a series of oscillations, as above mentioned. The shuntwire leading to the contact-piece 7L receives no current in either of the positions shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. XVith a current of increased intensity (such as will be produced, for instance, by the cutting out of the majority of the instruments R) the magnet E will be energized sufficiently to draw the armature F against the contact-piece h. The resistance G will then be in the main circuit, as in Fig. 4; but onlya portion of the total current will pass through the magnet E and the apparatus R, (see line indicated by small circles,) while the remainder of the current will pass through the armature Fand through the wire leading to the contact-piece h. (See line crossed by diagonal dashes.) As soon as the armature comes in contact with the said contact-piece h the attractive force of the magnet E is decreased owing to the closing of the shunt-circuit and the armature returns to its original position, coming in contact with the contact-piece h. The armature will thus oscillate to and fro continuously, and the intensity of the current passing through the instruments R will vary from a maximum, which is attained when the armature F e11- gages the contact-piece h, to a minimum, which is attained when the armature engages the other contact-piece h. The instruments R-for instance, electric igniters for gasburnersdepending for their operation upon the magnetic or heat effects of the electric current, and since such magnetic and heat effects are not instantaneous, it follows that the effect of the pulsating current, varying between the maximum and minimum above indicated, will be equal to the effect that would be produced by a continuous current of a mean intensity between said maximum and minimum.

In the construction illustrated by Fig. 5 one or more flexible or elastic conducting-strips ZZ are interposed between the armature F and the contact-pieces h h. The resistance G is divided into sections 0* 0" T the strips Z Z being connected to the points where two sections meet. It will be clear that in the position shown in Fig. 5 the entire current will pass through the whole of the resistance G. Should the current weaken, so as to allow the armature F to touch the strip Z, the section 0" will be practically out out and the strength of the current will be increased correspondingly. Similarly, if the armature moves away from the magnet far enough to press the strips Z and Z together the sections 0' and 0' will be practically cut out, and if the arm atnre forces the strip Z against the contact-piece h the action will be the same as in Fig. 2. This construction is particularly useful when the resistance in the circuit varies considerably-for instance, when the same current is employed for lighting a single burner or a large number of them.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An automatic regulator for electric currents, comprising a magnet or coil, an armature, a resistance, two contact-pieces between which the armature is arranged, and connections whereby the coil, the armature, the resistance and one of the contact-pieces are in the main circuit,while the other contact-piece is in a shunt-circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An automatic regulator for electric currents, comprising a magnet or coil, an armature, a resistance, two contact-pieces between which the armature is arranged, a movable conducting-strip between said armature and one of the contact-pieces, the resistance being constructed in sections and the said conducting-strip being connected to the resistance at the meeting-point of two sections, and connections whereby the coil, the armature, the resistance and one of the contact-pieccs are in the main circuit, while the other contact-piece is in a shunt-circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH DENIS CYlRIEN CHATEAU.

\Vitnesses:

LuoN FRANCKENS, EDWARD P. MAOLEAN. 

